Lions football falls to Harding at end of regular season
November 18, 2010
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The University of North Alabama football team found themselves
trailing 23-7 late in the first half before rallying to take a
28-23 lead in the third quarter only to let the game slip away in
the final minute against Harding University as the Lions fell
29-28.
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The Bison did not complete a pass in the game until the final drive
of the contest when running back Jeremy Holt completed a halfback
pass to wide receiver Kurt Adams for a 22-yard gain on
fourth-and-16.
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The Bison then converted yet another fourth down attempt when
quarterback Josh Powell found wide receiver Jeremy Holt for a
10-yard gain on fourth-and-seven.
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Powell then completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Watson to
give the Bison the lead.
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The two-point conversion failed and the Lions ran out of time
driving down the field after moving into Bison territory. The
Lions end the season with an 8-3 record overall and missed out on
earning a share of the Gulf South Conference title.
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The Bison rushed for 328 yards, the most any team has rushed for
against the Lions this season, and passed for just 54 yards. The
UNA offense struggled to find a rythmn early but finally settled in
and finished with 312 total yards, rushing for 144 and passing for
168.
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UNA received the opening kickoff and proceeded to go three-and-out
on the opening possession of the game. Punter Kolby Taylor then
dropped the snap and managed a five-yard punt that gave the Bison
the ball in UNA territory at the 37-yard line.
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Colton Kamper then ran 14-yards for the Bison’s first score of the
game. Adin Menkin’s extra point gave the Bison a 7-0 lead.
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Following another punt by UNA, senior defensive back Chad Danield
intercepted a pass by Powell at the UNA-42 yard line. UNA
quarterback Lee Chapple then found wide receiver Tim Hawthorne for
a 39-yard scoring strike for the Lions first score. Kolby Taylor’s
extra point evened the score at 7-7.
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The Bison then scored 16-unanswered points to take a 23-7 lead.
The first score came after Chapple was sacked and fumble the ball.
The Bison took over and scored when Kamper took the ball four-yards
into the endzone for his second touchdown of the day.
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The extra point gave the Bison a 14-7 lead. Menkin then added a
26-yard field goal following a UNA punt to extend the Bison lead to
17-7 with 8:06 left in the first half.
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Following another UNA punt, Harding quarterback Jeremy Holt busted
a 49-yard touchdown run. The missed extra point gave the Bison a
23-7 lead with 5:23 left in the half.
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Chapple threw an interception on the Lions ensuing drive. The
Bison then turned the ball when defensive lineman Courtney Harris
recovered a fumble at the Harding-16 yard line, setting up the
Lions with great field position. A 13-yard pass to wide receiver
Chris Simpson gave the Lions the ball at the Harding three-yard
line. Chapple then snuck into the enzone one play later to cut the
lead to 23-14 at halftime.
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The Bison fumbled the ball on the opening drive of the second
half. UNA defensive back Bryan Thomas recovered and raced 73-yards
for a touchdown. The extra point cut the lead to 23-21.
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The Bison then fumbled the ball once again on their next possession
as linebacker Larry Wilson recovered the fumble forced by Harrison
Bryant. After moving the ball into Bison territory, Chapple was
sacked and fumbled the ball back to the Bison.
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UNA cornerback Chad Daniel then recovered yet another Bison fumble
that up a 10-play, 47-yard scoring drive that ended with running
back Chris Coffey finding the endzone from one-yard out. The extra
point gave the Lions a 28-23 lead.
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The Lions had several chances to extend the lead in the fourth
quarter. Daniel intercepted a pass attempt by Josh Powell and the
Lions proceeded to drive down to the Bison one-yard line before
Chapple was stopped short on a fourth down attempt.
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Kolby Taylor missed a 42-yard field goal attempt following another
Bison fumble. Harding turned the ball over on its first five
possessions of the second half.
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Chapple finished the day completing 15-of-30 passes for 168 yards
and one touchdown. Chris Coffey led the Lions with 11 carries for
52-yards and one touchdown.
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Wes Holland added 15 carries for 47-yards. Tim Hawthorne all
receivers with two catches for 58-yards and a touchdown.
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Despite the loss the Lions still earned a playoff spot in the NCAA
Division II playoffs. The Lions will face GSC rival Valdosta State
University this Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.